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Christian leader: Attack not motivated by religion

The Associated Press

Updated:
04/24/2014 06:24:23 PM EDT

LEMOYNE, Pa. (AP) — The leader of a Christian organization that operates a hospital in Afghanistan where three people were shot dead by a security guard says he does not believe the shootings were motivated by religion.

Dale Brantner is CEO of Lemoyne, Pennsylvania-based Cure International. He says in a telephone interview Christians with strong beliefs are generally respected in the Muslim world.

Brantner says Thursday's shootings and other recent deadly attacks seem more political than religious. He says the Cure hospital in Kabul has operated for 12 years as an "unapologetically Christian" facility that annually helps about 37,000 poor children with serious conditions.

He mourned the death of Dr. Jerry Umanos, who specialized in treating premature babies at the hospital. He says he has no information on the other two victims.